Cap detector for automatic bottle vending machines



Oct. 30, 1945. N. M. DENlsoN' t 2,388,125

CAP` DETECTORFOR AUTOMATIC BOTTLE VENDING MACHINES Filed May 17, 1944.1` 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV'BNTOR. ./Vae/ A4, en/.son

Oct. 3o, 1945. N, M BENSON A 2,388,125

CAP DETECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC BOTTLE VENDING MACHINES Filed My 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '220 y A +4 ele. INVENTOR.

/Vae/ M, en/Isar? Patented Oct. 30, `1945 oFF-lice;

`Grilli"DETEGL'JR FOR AU'OMATIG BGTELE. i VENDING MAGHIN E S.`

Noel M'.. Denison;l Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Gi Earl'llovey; Kansas City, Min, trustee ApplicatimMay 1-7, 1944;, semina-535,955

(onzas-zii( n 9 Claims;

Thief inventionarelates, to` vending. machines; for. capped: bottled goods, and has` torr its primaryfV aim the: provision of improvements; tof such(k equipe` msnm and particularlyxthatf disielosedirr` UL Sz. Letters Patent No. 2,333,118 issued ,Nov2', 194321 It isxnecessary inatheesatisfactoryoperatiomof zg vending: machines: for: capped bottled goods. that: thpresence orabsence, off the conventional capA be detectedebefore; the bottlefis; passed to: arde:- capping unit, especially where. the movement of thebottleto saiclvunit: isi based upon thee introductiomo al coinv to' the.l vending'machine;- by the: operatori.; In. vending machines of. the character sliown ini the aforesaid patent,VA the contents?` ofi the: capped bottle-.is pouredinto aasuitable receptacle;afterr the cap` is automatically removed, therefore; ann empty;` uncapped: bottle isi a1:-A lowedztoi pass'` through themachina. tliei openator: isldeprivedsothe substance forwhichhe'has paid',v and seriousiobjectionsfarisa @ne of: thei important aims.z oil; this invention n is Vthe provisions` of means for detectingfthe priest ence oiabottlefcap 'as-the: bottleiis moved through amending machinegot the` type disclosed@ in'Sz, Iietters PatentlNof. 2,3334 L8` vide meansvfor electricallyxdeterihining the-prese` ence ofi a liottle:` cap, which means controls' the further operation` of the-vendinggmachine; to the end,= that thenpurchaseruor the partypresenting view" through a: portioni of `a L vendi-ng machine; illustrating cap detectorih elevation. M

Figi; 3` isf` a fragmentary vertical-a sectionalr view.r taken Online IIIf-III of i lil'ga.V 4 is: a1 fragmentary side` elevational View of.' the: bottle; elevating-andi decapping; equipment,y showing the bottleim the: manyapositions assumed! asthefsame iszrai'sed: from the point orestshown iniFigl.l;iand; 5

t; Fig.. 5:'is; al winingzxdiagram oi the electrical circuiti oi the machine whereinV theeaprV detector embodying this, invention1 is interposed.`

The cap i detector disclosedL asi ai part of. the vending machine; shown in the above identifiedV l patent` is? practicakandixoperable unless: lconceni-f` privedl` of." the` purchase# .price of thef commodity' whichwhe intended tol purchase, witliouthaving deliveredathe:said:commodity.v n i v i Further obiects o'f the invention: include the: previsioni oli` a specially mountedl magnet," ele. ments for actuating a control switchrwhen; the mounting for the magneti has beenY shiftect' to; a certaiilr position; means for limiting theszmove ment.: ofthe magnet and its` supporting partsgaml: a'iunit for' arrestingand maintaining, the bottlej ina" location adjacent' to' thee magnetcwhere the: presence `ofi at capi. thereon willi" haveA the: desired electfot' shifting the'. magnetl anditsi elem'entsuandthereby,r actuatingg an. electrical toicontrol'. the:r further operation or the vendingl machine; with which the.` cap detector isiassociatedf. i i

Otherfobij ects: 015l the invention:l willi appear-.l during the course of the following specicationpres.

ferrin-g toi the' accompanying drawings; wherein:

Fig: 1f" is a fragmentarysideelevationaiview of a` portion off ajvendingl` `illustratingf` the-'cap `detector `embody-ingr thepresent invenc 25 tlierefromiV A yet4 further aim of this inventionv is-tofproe tric'caps areencountered;` whereuponithe- Weight impressedi upon the;A control switch isf` reduced: and! in some instances;y the; cap failspentirely to approach the switch and operate: thef salme;M

the vending machine covered the patent, it' isdesirableto arrestthefmovement of the bottle if noncap-- is present,A which o'f course; indicates that there isnothin'g: in@ the bottle to be poured In machines ofthe?!type-tto` whichl this invention refersy it? is; necessary,r tomprovide. positive meansforfdetectingcthe presence on at can for there is usuallyvr nos` attendant` close by andil if a; deformed caprrsliould present i itselt for; detection,` the machine would'. stop; if the: apparatus was not sufficiently versatile: to detect the'.l deformed cap: andi` allow the' bottle: to proceed;` 'Ehe detector about. toib'ee described;L therefore;` is usable in: vending. machines' where bottles, having; metallic caps are` handled: and: the apparatus for shifting` oru handling'` thei bottles accomplished through electrically` dri'venmeans., rEhe detector'. includes primarily a magnet for maintaining, the electrically driven apparatus operative:y onlyiwhen a capped` bottles has: been disposed` in the fieldv of thefmagnet, as more. fullyr set down: hereinafter. i f i The mechanical parts for manipulating.- the' bottle are here' collectively andi generally desig- Iiatedi bythe numeral@ l0 dicatedy thenumeral |52.

` Switch-r l@ havin'gfcoxfrduetorsA and;` liti are analogous to parts 94; 270:" andi 2F11: ofPatent No. 2,333,118. As described in that patentg, it is; necessary4 fon switch 4iA t@ be closed before: the maschine `can operate tsmove the. bottle: 'beyond the position: which i-tf has assumed'. just prior to hav-ing thef capi removedzf Bottle lf2? is; sl'rowni in that. position in Fig. l; thel drawings;` and is an:v enlarged" fragmentaryV sectionalf the metallic cap lies in the field of .magnet 22 vwhen the bottle is in the position illustrated with the neck thereof resting in support 24. The bottle moves to the position illustrated from a portion of the machine I0, and is travelling in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, just prior toits being arrested itsmovement.

When.- the bottle is .lying in support 24, the presence of a metallic cap 20 will draw magnet 22 to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Normally, magnet 22 is in the position illustrated in yfull lines and its swingable support will not be exerting pressure upon nger 26 of switch I4.

The swingable' support is in thenature of a lever 28, pivotally mounted as at 30, and formed substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The formation of this lever 28 requires only that when magnet and lever 22 and 28 respectively are in the normal position shown in full vlines of Fig. 2, that finger 26 be free and in al place where the contact points of switch :I4 arenot-closed. A stop 32. limits the movement of lever 28 in .one direction and it is against this .stop .tliatthe lever rests when the action of gravity maintains the magnet and lever in a set condition, ready for movement by the presence of abottle cap 20.

When a metallic bottle cap 20 drops into sup-l port 24, lever 28 will move about its pivotal support A30 to the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 2, due to 4the magnetic `attraction between the metallic-capl20 and magnet 22., Thus, the contact points of switch I4 will be closed and the vending machine will thereafter continue i g1' its operation by moving the bottle to a decapper, pouring .the contents of the bottle into a receptacle, and thereafter depositing the emptied bottle in a magazine, all as set down in the above identified patent. When bottle I2 is pulled away from magnet 22, the `tendency to further swing lever 28 `is overcome by stop34, .which absorbs the pull on magnet 22 due to the .movement of Vcap. .20, `and thereby relieve any destructive tendency V,that lever 28 may-have upon nger 26. The metallic cap need have no particular form to be detected by the apparatus hereinabove described, andtherefore, positive action is insured without regard to contour of the cap, the presence of which is tobedetected, andthe natureof which is Vsuch as Vto be receivableby the decapping portion of the vending machine |0.

When theV machine, having the cap detector |36. Cup shelf |36 is specially made with weight operated switches forming a part of the circuit shown inFig, 5.

Y After cap'20 is withdrawn from bottle I2, the continued upward movement of cradle 864 tilts y the bottle to a downwardly inclined position shown in the uppermost dotted lines of Fig. 4,

where the contents of the bottle is poured into container` |34. During the decapping operation roller 98 bears against block |40 to insure rigidity and the same roller is positioned adjacent the inclined face of member |42..during the pour-5 f ingoperation.

1 66 will move to motivate cradle 84.

made as above set forth, is loadedV and set, a capped bottle I2 is positioned in cradle v84 and as thebottles are elevated towards the decapper |22 by motor |68, another bottle I2 immediately moves to place. 1 Y Y The operation of thev decapperris clearly set, i'

forthv in the patent above identified, and the tiltingV action is such that cap 20 of bottle I2 is Y engaged by decapper |22, as illustrated in dotted lines of Fig. 4.

This decapper is assisted in its operation upon ""1 vcap 20 yby guides |24 that insure centering of the bottle as it is tilted. YDecapper |22 ispVOtally mounted on shaft. |2I, carried by the end, of the cabinet, which houses the parts'lll of the vend-` ing machine. i 1 g j `Spring y|26 yieldably maintains thedecapper in the position shown in full lines, of Fig. fi. One leg `.|23 of decapper IZZisbifurcated to straddle the. neck of.. the .bottle immediately below cap v20 to insure an veven pull on each side thereof,

Bottle I2 is moved longitudinally in a straight The electrical circuit iuustrated in Fig. 5, formsV a part of the vending machine disclosed by U.. S5

Letters Patent No. 2,333,118. .The switch which is maintained closed by the bottle. cap in the said patent,depends upon'the weight of the bottle when av cap is present to hold theswitchrpoints together. Since the switch embodying my present invention performs in a similar fashion, an

understandingv of the electrical circuit shown in Fig, 5, with switch I4 therein, will suiilce.

the machine 'will `operateifa capped bottle. |2

is in the position shown inv Figs. l and 2.

When a coinis dropped, switch 202 is closed t and energy is supplied to motor controlled relay I bank 222 through Va circuit including my` capl detector switch I4, which, if a capped bottlelis: present, `is-held closed as shown in dotted linesV of-Fig. 2. If no capV is present, the machinezwill not operate but the coin will be returned-tothe depositor. If theswitch VI4is closed and a coin is dropped to close switch. 202,'the circuit is .com-V pletedasfollows: vj From power line 256 through wire 260,wir`e 262,

one closedv arm of switch' 246, wire 264, vforward' relay coil 266,' wire 268, .closed coin switch'2ll2,`

wire .|6, closed switch I4, wiresI-8,'wireV 214,'wire 216, the other closed army of switch 246, and wire 218 to power line 258: AWhen this circuit is closed momentarily by. a. coin, coil 266 is energized: to close contact points'280 and 282 of the iforward relay in. control 222.,- r Immediately following the closing of, points 280 and 282, the coin will drop from the coin controlled switch, whereupon` coil, 266 is. maintained energized through the'followingcircuitz".

Line ,256,- wire ,260, wire 262, one closed arm of 'switchi246,`wire 264, coil 266, contacts 280 and 282, wire 284, wire 214, wire 216, other closed arm-of switch 246, and wire 218 to line 258,4,V

closes .contact points 286 and 288, 290 and 292,

-2 and I.

gesamt and @234 and '2286; when these pointsare closed, the-meter A`|68 receives M'current='th.rc1.1gh the fol- `lowingc'ircuit:` l l l From 'line '266 through wil-re 268, wire i288, wire 388, -wire 302,V closed contacts 282 and $298, wire 304, wire 386 to terminal 2 of motor |68. The internal circuit ofmo'tor |68 connects terminals Current then passes through wire 322, wire 324, closed contacts 286 and 284, wire 326, wire 328 to terminal 3. Internal circuit of motor |66'connects terminals 3 and 4. From motor |68 through terminal 4, wire 308,wire 3 IJ, closed contacts 288 and 286, wire 3|2, wire 3| 4, closed side of switch 224, wire 3|6, wire 3|8, closed side of switch '226, wire 320, wire 216, switch 246, wire 218 to line 258.

As the motor |68 elevates rack 66, bottle |2 is decapped, container |34 is deposited onplatform 232 of shelf |36, and the contents of bottle I2 is poured into container |34. Rack 66 continues to rise and deposit bottle |2-all as described in the aforesaid patent, whereupon the motor reverses and rack 66 returns to the point of beginning. When the filled cup |34 is removed from platform 232, motor |68 is started to return the bottle gripping and elevating means to the position shown in Fig. 1.

When rack 66 reaches its lowermost point, the arm of switch 24 is engaged to again set up the circuit for actuating the machine when a coin is again dropped.

As the rack 66 approaches the lowermost position the last portion of its travel is employed to feed another capped bottle |2, whereupon switch I4 will be closed, if the bottle has a cap 28 thereon and again the machine may start when a coin is dropped, as just set down.

A more detailed description of the circuit shown in Fig. 5 is unnecessary because of the complete manner in which it is disclosed in the patent above identified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine for bottles normally having metallic caps, said machine including electrically operated means for moving the bottles, means for detecting the presence of caps on the bottles as they pass a given point, one at a time in their movement and for controlling the further operation of the machine, comprising a switch in the circuit of the electrically operated means; and parts to open and close the switch includin-g a magnet shiftable to a position to actuate the switch when a capped bottle appears at said given point.

2. In a vending machine for bottles normally having metallic caps, said machine including electrically operated means for moving the bottles, means for detecting the presence of caps on the bottles as they pass a given point, one at a time in their movement and for controlling the further operation of the machine, comprising a switch in the circuit of the electrically operated means; and parts to open and close the switch including a magnet shiftable to a position to actuate the switch when a capped bottle appears at said given point, said parts being adapted to automatically return to their normal positions when the capped .bottle is carried from said given point.

`3. In a vending machine for bottles normally having metallic caps, said machine including electrically operated means for moving the bottles, means for detecting the presence of caps on the bottles as they lpass a given pointgone at a V.time in` their Amovement. and for controlling .the lurlther operation Vof the machine, comprising a switchin the Acircuit )of the electrically operated means; and partsto open and close the switch including a magnet shiftable .to a position to Iac- `tuatethe switch when a capped bott-le appears at said given point, certain of said parts being held against the cap of the bottle as the capped bottle is in position at said given point.

4. In a vending machine for bottles normally havingmetallic caps, said machine including electrically operated means for moving the bottles, means for detecting the presence of caps on the bottles as they pass a given point, one at a time in their movement and for controlling the further operation of the machine, comprising a switch in the circuit of the electrically operated means; parts to open and close the switch including a magnet shiftable to a position to actuate the switch when a capped bottle appears at said given point; and a cradle at the said` given point to arrest the bottle in place thereat g 5. In a vending machine for bottles normally having metallic caps, said machine including electrically operated means for moving the bottles, means for detecting the presence of caps on the bottles as they pass a given point, one at a time in their movement and for controlling the further operation of the machine, comprising a switch in the circuit of the electrically operated means; and parts to open and close the switch includi-ng a. magnet shiftable to a position to actuate the switch when a capped bottle appears at said given point, said parts being movable through a given path of travel, the bottle cap being in a location when at a given point to stop the movement of the parts before they reach the end of their path of travel in one direction.

6. In a vending machine for capped bottles, a rack for supporting the bottles; means for moving the bottles into a discharged position; apparatus for decapping and pouring the contents of the bottle into a suitable container; and means for rendering inoperative the decapping and pouring apparatus when an uncapped bottle is fed into the discharged position, said last mentioned means including a magnet movable to the operative position by the cap of a discharged bottle to render operative portions of the decapping and pouring apparatus.

`7. In a vending machine for capped bottles, a rack for supporting the bottles; means for moving the bottles into a discharged position; apparatus for decapping and pouring the contents of the bottle into a suitable container; and means for rendering inoperative the decapping and pouring apparatus when an uncapped bottle is fed into the discharged position, said last mentioned' means including a magnet movable to the operative position by the cap of a discharged bottle to render operative portions of the decajpping and pouring apparatus, said magnet being immovably maintained in place when an uncapped bottle is fed into the discharged position.

8. In a vending machine for bottles normally having metallic caps, said machine including electrically operated means for moving and decapping the bottles, means for detecting the presence of caps on the bottles as they assume a position in the machine and for rendering the elec-'- trically operated means inoperative upon the presence of an uncapped bottle, said means comprising a switch having separable contact points in the circuit of the electrically operated means,

a ,pivoted lever for opening and closing the conhaving metallic caps, and apparatus *for Vshifting tact points; a magnei*J on the lever; and a support bottlesA within the machine,V means including a formed to hold the mouth of a bottle in the eld magnetl for rendering the apparamsI operative at of the magnet; said Contact points being closed thev beginning of its cycle ofoperation only when when a capped-bottle is in the supportI with the 5 a `capped bottle is within the field of the magnet. magnet against the cap thereof. Y 9. In a Vending machine for bottles normally v v kNOEL M. DENISON. 

